Apparatus for closing bags



March- 12, 1946.

c. H. HARTMAN ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed May 2, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 12, 1946. H, HARTMAN ET AL 2,396,262

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed May 2, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwue/rvfm Car/ Harf/mm 5/2 A. Marsh 4 /V@/'// f. Oar/07 March 12, 1946.

C. H. HARTMAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed May 2, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Moon; 3

March 12, 1946. c., H. HARTMAN ET AL 2,396,262

APPARATUS FOR CLO SING BAGS Filed May ,2, 1939 8'Sheets-Sheet 6 E, i' FIEalU.

March 12, 1946. c, H, HARTMAN ETAL 2,396,262

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed May 2, 1939 8 She ets-Sheet 5 )W/l/d awe/whoa Car/ Harfman fs//' ,4. Many/ /VE/// E. Oar/709% March 12, 1946. c, HARTMAN EIAL 2,396,262

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed May 2. 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Flgli Mai'h 12, 1946. c. H. HARTMAN ETAL 2,396,252

AP PARATUS FOR CLOSING BAGS Filed May 2, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I I I3". 1 5- by reference number 32.

Patented Mar. 12, 1946 APPARATUS FOR CLOSING mos Carl H. Hartman, New Rochelle, and Esli A. Marsh and Neill E. Dorrington, Oswego, N. Y., assignors to St. Regis Paper Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 2, 1939, Serial No. 371,372 Claims. (01.112-11) This invention relates to apparatus for conveyingopen mouthed filled bags and closing the tops thereof while they are being conveyed.

A more specific object of the invention is to maintain the bags with flat sides while being conveyed, square the shoulders, and close the bags closely above the squared shoulders.

Other details and objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this invention Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus viewed from the corner on which the sewing machine is located;

Fig.2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, showing the end of the conveying means for receiving the filled bags;

Fig. 4 i a detail section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of the apparatus for folding and closing the top of the bag;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section approximately on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bag and tucking fingers shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the bag top tucking mechanism, a part being in section;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged section approximately on the line Il-II of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a partial plan view of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical section of the bag top being shaped for sewing;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic plan view of the sewing and trimming steps; and

Fig. 15 is a side view of the top of the closed bag.

Referring .to the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1,

the general construction comprises a base 30 and a base 3|. Upon the base 3I, there is mounted bag opening and filling means indicated generally There is indicated somewhat diagrammatically a weighing apparatus designated by 33 in position to deliver weighed charges to the successive bags. base 3|, there is shown to be mounted a sewing apparatus 34. Between the opening and filling apparatus and the sewing machine for closing the bag, there is conveying and bag folding means Upon indicated generally on Fig. 1 by reference number 35. This conveying and folding means comprises jigging means indicated on Fig. 2 by reference number 30, a gusset tucking device indicated at 31, side folding apparatus indicated at 38,- and top shaping and conveying apparatus designated as a whole by reference number 39.

The filled bag 99 which is discharged from the filling apparatus is forwarded to the sewing machine by mechanism which will now be described.

This portion of the apparatus is supported upon beams I00 which extend from the sewing machine end of the apparatus. as shown on Fig. 1, to the filling end of the machine. At each side there operate chains ml which are connected at intervals by suitable pushers I02, as clearly indicated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, for example. The chains are driven by suitable sprocket wheels I03. Suitably supported upon the beams I00 there is a bottom support or slideway I04 for the filled bags. A portion of this slideway as shown at the right of Fig. 3 and designated I05, is mounted upon pins I 06 which pass through cross pieces I01 mounted upon beams I00. Normally member I05'rests upon rubber cushions I08 interposed between the cross pieces and the bottom of member I05. Springs I09 normally hold member I05 in its lower position.

Member I05 is given vertical reciprocating or jigging motion by any suitable apparatus. In the construction shown, a shaft H0 is mounted in brackets III attached to the under side of member I05. This shaft has connectedthereto an eccentric weight 2, the details of which are not shown, butwhich operates to impart vertical impulses to the member I05 by the eccentric motion of the weights when shaft H0 is r0- tated. Member I05 is allowed sumcient vertical movement to jig the bags resting thereon. Springs I09 and cushions I08 allow resilient vertical action of member I05, while cushioning that movement and preventing objectionable noise. Shaft IIO is indicated as being driven by belt H3 from a suitable pulley II4 which in turn is driven in any suitable manner. As the bags are successively shoved along over member I05, the vertical reciprocation of that member imparts a jigging action to each bag, and the material is settled in the bag.

As the bag is moved along the slideway, the top'of the bag is folded in preparatory to sewing. Where, gusseted bags are employed, it is preferable to first tuck in the gusseted sides. The apparatus for accomplishing this purpose is shown in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, and comprises an actuating finger I20 which is moved in a circular path to strike the top of the bag from the rear and move the rear gusseted side forward, and a finger I2I which is oscillated to alternately descend and strike rearward the forward gusseted side and to rise out of the path of the bag.

Member I20 is mounted upon a shaft I 22 which is rotated continuously from a bevel gear I23 meshing with a bevel gear I24 on a'short shaft I25 mounted in a bracket I26 rising at one side of the frame of the machine. Shaft I25 carries a sprocket wheel I21 which is driven by a chain I28 from a sprocket wheel I29 on a continuously rotating shaft I30 which runs longitudinally of the machine. The other end of shaft I22 is supported by a bracket I3I rising from the other beam I00.

The member I2I for tucking in the forward gusset is mounted on an arm I32 on a rockshaft I33. Another arm I34 of the rockshaft is driven by a lever I35 pivoted at I36 and normally urged by a spring I31 in the direction to lower the tucking finger I2I. Lever I35 carries a roller I38 which contacts a cam I39 on a sleeve I40 which is directly driven by bevel gear I23.

Shaft I22 is connected to sleeve I40 through a yielding connection indicated on Fig. 3, themember I4I on the end of sleeve I40 turning in the direction of the arrow. A tension spring I42 connects a pin on member I4I with an arm I43 on shaft I22 and normally turns shaft I22 until stop I44 is encountered by lug I45. It will be obvious that, if finger I 20 meets excessive resistance, spring I42 will yield so as to allow the finger I20 to slow up in its movement until the bag moves forward slightly, or until pin I44 encounters lug I46, whereupon the drive becomes positive.

It will also be seen that spring I31 which normally presses tucking finger I2I downward, will yield if excessive resistance is met by that finger. In this way, if the bag happens to be slightly out of position or if for any other reason there is unusual resistance to the movement of the tucking fingers, they yield sufliciently so that there is no danger of injuring the bag.

The top of 'the bag can be folded more accurately and satisfactorily if the sides of the bag are held parallel so that the package assumes an approximately rectangular cross-section instead of being rounded or oval. For the purpose of accomplishing this result, there are indicated bars I50 and II mounted upon posts I52, as shown on Figs. 5 and 6. Inside of the upper bars I5I along the stretch where the top of the bag is being tucked in and folded, there are relatively wide shaping bars I54. These upper bars are not shown as extending beneath the sewing machine, but the lower bars I50 are shown as extending to the delivery end of the apparatus.

After the gussets have been tucked in as described above, the two sides of the top of the bag are brought together by folding members I60 and Hit, as clearly indicated in Figs. 11 and 12. As clearly shown in Fig. 11, the members I60 and I6I are mounted upon the ends of arms I62 and I63 by means of adjustable pin and slot connections I54 and I65. That is so that the height of these folding members can be adjusted from time to time, if the filling of bags of difierent lengths or other reasons renders it desirable. It will also be noted that the bars I50, I5I and I54 are adjustable vertically upon posts I52.

The arms I62 and I83 are pivoted at I66 and I61 upon the beams I00. Arm I62 is extended below its pivot I68 and carries a cam roller I 08 which contacts a cam I69 on shaft I80. The cam is preferably mounted on the shaft by pin and slot connection I so that the timing of members I60 and I6I can be adjusted with respect to the other operations of the apparatus. The extended end of arm I63 is connected by a. link "I with arm I63 so that the arms are moved simultaneously. In the construction shown, there is a spring "3' connected to frame member I00 and link HI and urging cam roller I68 into contact with cam I69.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 11. the members I60 and I6I are moved in operative direction by spring I13 when the cam allows that movement, so that their working stroke is yielding, but are forcibly driven on the nonoperative stroke to the position shown in dotted lines.

Immediately after the top of the bag is collapsed by members I60 and I6 I, it moves between belts I15 and I16 which are mounted in frames I11. (See Figs, 13, 1 and 2.) The belts are driven in unison by an upright shaft I10 which in turn is driven from shaft I30 by suitable connections, not shown. Shaft I18 appears on Figs. 1 and 5. The belts may be yieldingly pressed towards each other by a series of rollers I19 so that the belts grip the top of the bags yieldingly. (See Fig. 13.) Preferably, the belts are made of or faced with rubber or the like, so that in any case they exert yielding pressure upon the bag tops.

Frames I11 are mounted for vertical adjustment upon posts I80, the vertical adjustment being effected by suitable screws, there being a crank handle I8I on one of these screws and connections by a chain I82 to the other screws so that both holders I11 may be raised and lowered simultaneously when desired. (See Fig. 5.)

Beneath belts I15 and I16 and supported by p'osts I83 and I84 which depend from holders I11 there are pressing and squaring bars I85 and I06 which are spaced so as to progressively press down the shoulders of the bag. These bars slant downward in the direction of movement of the bags, as clearly indicated on Fig. 5 so that the shoulders of the bag are pressed down and squared, and the collapsed top of the bag extends upward for a considerable distance in collapsed condition. The yielding grip of the belts upon the top of the bag holds the top of the bag yieldingly against the downward pressure of the squaring bars, so that the walls of the bag are drawn snugly over the material and around the inner sides of the bars, which results in a properly shaped bag with the walls smoothly drawn over the material and up to the point where the bags are to be closed.

After the bag top has been squared in this way, it passes through a sewing machine which may be of the type disclosed in the Bates Patent No. 1.625.781, issued April 26, 1927, or any other suitable bag sewing apparatus. In the construction shown, two tapes I90 and I9I are fed to the seam 'on each side of the bag and after the needle I92 has sewed the seam, as indicated on Fig. 14,a knife I93 trims off the top of the bag so that the closed filling device) meshes with a bevel gear 2! on horizontal shaft 202, which in turn drives a chain 203 running over a sprocket wheel on shaft I30, as indicated on Fig. 2.

The tucking fingers are desirablesince they tuck in the corners of the bag top and shorten the seam which is necessary to close the top of the bag. The collapsing device 38 flattens'the top of the bag in a plane in the direction of its travel towards the sewing machine and this collapsed top is resiliently clamped between the forwarding belts. The shoulder-forming rails beneath these belts press thewalls of the bag downward and inward and not only square the shoulders of the bag, but produce a longer collapsed portion of the bag top above the material therein. This enables the seam to be sewn at a lower point than it could otherwise. As has been noted in connection with Fig. 14, the top of the bag is trimmed rial. Themanufacture of this compact package is also facilitated by the complete opening of the bar}. before the filling operation as well as the settling of the material in the bag, the flattening of the sides of the bag while the bag top is being folded and the squaring of the top of the bag as just described. For this reason, these features all cooperate in producing a desirable, properly shaped and compact'filled bag. Therefore, the various parts of the apparatus are advantageously employed together, although some features might be employed by themselves with some advantage.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for feeding the top of a filled bag to a sewing machine comprising belts between which the top of the bag is yieldingly gripped, and a member on each side of the bag top beneath the belt and slanting downward in the direction of movement .of the bag toward the sewing machine, whereby said members press the bag walls inward and downward and the bag shoulders are squared.

2. Apparatus for feeding the top of a filled bag to a sewing machine comprising belts between which the top of the bag is yieldingly gripped, and a member on each side of the bag top beneath the belt and slanting downward in the direction of movement of the bag toward the sewing machine, whereby said members press the bag walls inward and downward and the bag shoulders are squared, and the collapsed portion of the bag is extended, the sewing machine being provided with means for trimming off the top of the bag above the seam.

3. Apparatus for closing filled bags comprising a sewing machine, means to convey a series of bags in succession to the machine, means for collapsing the top of the bag above the filling therein into a plane parallel with its direction of travel as it approaches the machine, belts yieldingly gripping the collapsed top of the bag therebetween-and moving. therewith towards the machine, and a stationary member beneath the respective belt on each side of the collapsed top, each member having an under surface adapted to contact the wall of the bag where it is slanted inward over the filling therein towards the collapsed portion of the bag top, and said surface slanting downward towards the end of the member adjacent the sewing machine, whereby the shoulders of the bag are squared and the length of the collapsed portion is extended.

4. In apparatus for closing filled bags comprising a machine for forming a closureat the collapsed top of a filled bag, means to convey filled bags in succession to said machine, means to collapse the top of each bag in succession, as it approaches the machine, in the plane of its travel, and means to yieldingly resist downward movement of the collapsed top of the bag, a shouldersquaring member located at each side of the path of travel of the collapsed tops and above the path of the outwardly slanted bag wall beneath the collapsed top, each of said members having an under surface slanting downward towards said machine, whereby the members square the shoulders 'of the bags and elongate their collapsed tops as they approach said machine.

5. In apparatus for closing the top of a filled bag, a conveyor adapted to conve a filled bag to a closing device, a rotatable shaft arranged horizontally across and above the path of travel of bags on said conveyor, a rear tucking finger on said shaft movable by the rotation of the shaft to tuck forward the rear side of a bag mouth, driving means for the shaft timed with the conveyor to effect tucking action on successive bags as they are moved by the conveyor beneath the shaft, a forward tucking finger for tucking rearward the forward side of a bag mouth, connections from said driving means positively moving the last said finger out of the path of the bag top in timed relation with the operation of the rear tucking finger and yielding means to drive said fingers in their tucking strokes.-

CARL H. HAR'I'MAN. ESLI A. MARSH. NEILL E. DORRINGTON. 

